3. Peer Review + the Economy

• 1. Peer Review

  • Final stage of research; scrutiny from specialists (British Psychological Society).
  • Research becomes part of journal/published in textbooks.
• 1a. Peer Review

  Aims of P.R.

  Allocate Research Funding:

  • Peer evaluation, decide whether award funding.

  Validate Quality/Relevance Research:

  • Assessed for quality/accuracy — formulation of hypothesis, methodology, statistical test + conclusions.

  Suggest Amendments/Improvements:

  • Extreme situations, may be withdrawn.
• Peer Review (Evaluation)

  General Strengths:

  • Validity + accuracy.
• Peer Review (Evaluation)

  Anonymity - Strength:

  • Anonymous = honest, objective reviewal.

  Anonymity - Limitation:

  • Reviewers may use anonymity to criticise rivals (competition for limited funding).
  • Open review may be favoured.
• Peer Review (Evaluation)

  Publication Bias - Limitation:

  • Journal editors may want publish ‘headline grabbing’ or positive findings to increase credibility/publicity.
  • Selectiveness creates false impression.
• Peer Review (Evaluation)

  Burying Groundbreaking Research - Limitations:

  • Suppress opposition/overly critical of mainstream theories (maintains status quo).
  • Established scientists chosen as reviewers, findings that align w/ current opinions likely passed over new/innovative research.
  • Slow down rate of change.
• 2. Economy

  Implications of Research for Economy:

  How research influences and benefits/devalues economy.
• 2a. Economy

  Implications of Research for Economy:

  Attachment Research - Role of the Father.

  • Modern research, role of father different to mother, not less valuable; equally provide emotional support.
  • Mothers may be higher earner (29% full time employment).
  • Share responsibilities = better equipped to maximise income, contributes to economy.
• 2b. Economy

  Implications of Research for Economy:

  Psychopathology Research - MH Causes/Treatments.

  • Work absences cost economy approx. £15 billion a year.
  • 1/3 absences = MH (depression/anxiety).
  • Quick diagnosis/access to treatments:
  • SSRIs (depression/OCD).
  • Anti-anxiety drugs (stress conditions).
  • Psychotherapies (e.g. CBT).
  • Management of MH = return to work = economic benefit.
• 3. Economy

  The Nudge Unit:

  • The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT).
  • Gov. organisation apply behavioural economies to improve economic policy/save money.
  • Increase tax, encourage gov. schemes, reduce financial waste.
• 3a. Economy

  Examples of Nudge Unit

  Attention to Payment Failure - Vehicle Excise Duty:

  • BIT added pic of offending vehicles in letters sent to non-payers.
  • Increased payments (40% to 49%).
• 3b. Economy

  Examples of Nudge Unit

  Social Norms to Increase Taxes:

  • BIT added notice that people pay taxes on time; increased payment rates.
• 3c. Economy

  Examples of Nudge Unit

  Encouraging People to Join Organ Donor Register:

  • Reciprocity.
  • When renew car tax, asked if want to join register.
  • 1 month, 8 different messages introduced.
  • 1 million people visited site during this month = large randomised controlled trials.